By rdnewsNOW staff

Brazeau County calling on province to put the brakes on Bighorn Country proposal

Mar 22, 2019 | 11:12 AM

Rural municipalities in Alberta have overwhelmingly thrown their support behind Brazeau County’s efforts in calling on the province to put its Bighorn Country proposal on hold.

Brazeau County officials say 94 per cent of delegates at the Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) spring convention and trade show in Edmonton this week, voted in favour of the County’s resolution calling for better consultation on the Bighorn Country proposal. 

“This resolution would not have happened without the support of our rural colleagues in our region and across Alberta,” says Reeve Bart Guyon, in a press release. “We are very grateful to have their endorsement on this important issue.” 

The resolution, passed in January by the RMA’s Pembina Zone board reads: “Therefore be it resolved that the Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) urge the Province of Alberta to put the Bighorn Country Proposal on hold until an inclusive and comprehensive consultation process that includes and respects First Nations, municipalities, stakeholder groups and residents of Alberta can be developed.” 

“As the provincial government announced this proposal just after the fall RMA Convention, it is fitting that at the next meeting of more than 600 rural elected officials, we called for this project to be put on hold,” adds Reeve Guyon. “Since November, government consultation has been inadequate, and has not had important voices at the table. Also since November, Brazeau County has opposed this proposal, called for better consultation, and has delivered more than 100 questions to the Minister of Environment. These questions are still unanswered.” 

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“We’re grateful for the interest, engagement, and effort of our residents to be informed, ask questions, and make their voices heard,” concludes Guyon. “And because of that effort, now virtually all of rural Alberta is speaking with one voice. We call upon the provincial government to listen to this voice, and put the Bighorn Country proposal on hold.”

(With files from Brazeau County)